Fireplace assembly with aromatherapy system

ABSTRACT

In one embodiment, a fireplace assembly is provided that includes a firebox partially surrounded by an outer housing and a receptacle carried by the outer housing. The outer housing is spaced apart from the firebox to define an airflow passageway around the firebox. The fireplace assembly further includes an airflow passageway having an inlet and an outlet. The receptacle is positioned above the firebox in fluid communication with the airflow passageway. The receptacle is configured to hold a selected aromatic material that evaporates and mixes with airflow moving through the airflow passageway between the inlet and the outlet when the receptacle is heated by heat from the firebox. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims (37 C.F.R. 1.72( b )).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is directed to fireplace assemblies and, moreparticularly, to fireplace assemblies, including fireplaces, fireplaceinserts, and stoves and components therefore.

SUMMARY

The present invention is directed to fireplace assemblies withintegrated aromatherapy systems. A brief summary of some embodiments andaspects of the invention are presented. Thereafter, a detaileddescription of the illustrated embodiments is presented, which willpermit one skilled in the relevant art to understand, make, and useaspects of the invention. One skilled in the art can obtain a fullappreciation of aspects of the invention from the subsequent detaileddescription, read together with the figures, and from the claims, whichfollow the detailed description.

Under one aspect of the invention, a fireplace assembly is provided thathas a receptacle for holding an aromatic fluid. The fireplace assemblyincludes an outer housing surrounding a firebox. The outer housing isspaced apart from portions of the firebox to define an airflowpassageway around the firebox. The receptacle is coupled to the outerhousing and is positioned generally adjacent to the firebox andpartially within the airflow passageway. The receptacle is configured toreceive an aromatic fluid, such as aromatherapy oil. As the fireboxheats the air in the airflow passageway and the receptacle, the aromaticfluid evaporates and mixes with the heated air. The evaporated aromaticfluid and heated air are subsequently dispersed into the room where thefireplace assembly is located.

Under another aspect of the invention, a fireplace frame is providedthat is attachable to a fireplace or fireplace insert. The fireplaceframe includes support members connected to the outer housing of afireplace or fireplace insert, and a receptacle is carried by thefireplace frame. The receptacle is configured to hold an aromatic fluid,such as aromatherapy oil. A fire in the fireplace or fireplace insertheats the receptacle, causing the aromatic fluid in the receptacle toevaporate. The evaporating aromatic fluid mixes with heated air that isdispersed into the room where the fireplace or fireplace insert islocated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a fireplace assembly in accordance withone embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially-exploded front isometric view of the fireplaceassembly of FIG. 1 showing the receptacle spaced apart from the outerhousing.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 ofFIG. 1 of one embodiment of the fireplace assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of a fireplace insert in accordancewith an alternate embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 5-5 ofFIG. 4 of one embodiment of the fireplace insert of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Fireplace assemblies with integrated aromatherapy systems are describedin detail herein in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention. In the following description, numerous specific details arediscussed to provide a thorough and enabling description for embodimentsof the invention. One skilled in the relevant art, however, willrecognize that the invention can be practiced without one or more of thespecific details. In other instances, well-known structures oroperations are not shown, or are not described in detail to avoidobscuring aspects of the invention. In general, alternatives andalternate embodiments described herein are substantially similar to thepreviously described embodiments, and common elements are identified bythe same reference numbers.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a fireplace assembly 10 in accordancewith one embodiment of the present invention. The illustrated fireplaceassembly 10 is a free-standing, direct-vent stove having a decorativeouter housing 14 that at least partially surrounds a firebox 12. Inalternate embodiments, the fireplace assembly 10 can be a fireplace,fireplace insert, or other fireplace unit that generates heat. The outerhousing 14 of the fireplace assembly 10 includes a front wall 22 with anair inlet 62 and an air outlet 64. The fireplace assembly 10 furtherincludes a receptacle 70 carried by the front wall of the outer housing14 and positioned above the firebox 12. The receptacle 70 provides anintegral component that forms a decorative component on the front of thefireplace assembly 10. The receptacle 70 is configured to hold aselected aromatic material, such as a fluid, that evaporates when heatedby the fireplace assembly 10. The evaporated aromatic material is thendiffused throughout the room where the fireplace assembly 10 is located.Accordingly, the fireplace assembly 10 has an integrated aromatherapysystem.

FIG. 2 is a partially-exploded front isometric view of the fireplaceassembly 10 of FIG. 1 showing the receptacle 70 spaced apart from theouter housing 14. The receptacle 70 includes a front wall 72, a bottomwall 74, opposing side walls 76 and 77, and a back wall 78 that define areceiving area to contain an aromatic material 79. The top portion 81 ofthe receptacle 70 is open to allow the aromatic material 79 to be loadedinto the receiving area. The receptacle 70 of the illustrated embodimentis slidably mounted in an aperture 83 formed in the outer housing'sfront wall 22 generally above the firebox 12. In alternate embodiments,the receptacle 70 may be positioned in various locations in thefireplace assembly 10 including, but not limited to, either side of thefirebox 12, below the firebox 12, on either side of the outer housing14, or on the top wall of the outer housing 14.

The receptacle 70 is moveable relative to the front wall 22 of thefireplace assembly 10 to slide or otherwise move between an openposition and a closed position. When the receptacle 70 is in the openposition, the receptacle projects from the aperture 83 in the front wall22 to provide access to the receptacle's receiving area through the opentop portion 81. In one embodiment, the receptacle 70 is a drawer that isslidably received by the aperture 83 of the fireplace assembly 10. Inother embodiments, the receptacle 70 can be hinged such that itpivotably opens and closes.

Selected aromatic material 79 can be added to the receptacle 70 when inthe open position. The receptacle 70 is then moved to the closedposition so that the front wall 72 of the receptacle 70 is immediatelyadjacent to or flush against the front wall 22 of the fireplace assembly10. The remaining portions of the receptacle 70 extend into the aperture83, behind the front wall 22, and adjacent to the firebox 12. The frontwall 72 of the receptacle 72 can include a handle or the like tofacilitate opening and closing of the receptacle 70. The receptacle 70may be refilled at any time with more or different aromatic material 79.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 ofFIG. 1. As best seen in FIG. 3, the outer housing 14 includes a bottomwall 26, a back wall 28, and a top wall 34. The fireplace assembly 10 inthe illustrated embodiment is a gas-burning unit having a burnerassembly 200 contained in the firebox 12, such as the Ember Fyre® burnerassembly manufactured by Travis Industries, Inc. of Kirkland, Wash. Inalternate embodiments, the fireplace assembly 10 can be a wood-fueled,pellet-fueled, or electric fireplace, fireplace insert, or free-standingstove.

The firebox 12 in the illustrated embodiment includes a bottom wall 36,a back wall 38, opposing side walls 40, and a top wall 44. The firebox12 is spaced apart from the walls of the outer housing 14 to define aheat exchanger 50 between the firebox and the outer housing. The heatexchanger 50 can include an airflow passageway with bottom plenum 52disposed between the outer housing bottom wall 26 and the firebox bottomwall 36, a back plenum 54 disposed between the outer housing back wall28 and the firebox back wall 38, and a top plenum 56 disposed betweenthe outer housing top wall 34 and the firebox top wall 44.

The heat exchanger 50 is in fluid communication with the air inlet 62and the air outlet 64 in the front wall 22 of the outer housing 14. Theheat exchanger 50 is adapted to direct an airflow 66 from the air inlet62, around the firebox 12, past the receptacle 70, and out the airoutlet 64. Heat from the firebox 12 heats airflow 66 as it passesthrough the passageways of the heat exchanger 50 before the heatedairflow 66 is exhausted through air outlet 64. In some embodiments, thefireplace assembly 10 can include a blower that facilitates the flow ofair through the fireplace assembly 10.

As the heated airflow 66 passes through the top plenum 56 of the heatexchanger 50, the heated air and the radiant heat from the firebox 12heats the receptacle 70 and its contents. The heated aromatic material79 in the receptacle 70 evaporates and mixes with the airflow 66 beforethe airflow exits the heat exchanger 50 through the air outlet 64 andinto the room where the fireplace assembly 10 is located. In this way,the evaporated aromatic material 79 is diffused throughout the room whenthe fireplace assembly 10 is in operation to provide aromatherapy to theoccupants in the room. In one embodiment, the top portion of thereceptacle 70 is open, as described above with respect to FIG. 2. Theopen portion of the receptacle 70 allows the evaporated aromaticmaterial 79 to mix with the heated airflow 66. In alternate embodiments,a screen or panel with airflow slots can be provided over the topportion of the receptacle 70. The screen or panel covering the topportion of the receptacle 70 is configured to allow the evaporatedaromatic material 79 to leave the receptacle and mix with the heatedairflow 66.

An alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 4,wherein the fireplace assembly 10 is a fireplace insert 100. Theillustrated fireplace insert 100 includes a decorative outer housing 114that at least partially surrounds a firebox 112. The outer housing 114includes a front wall 122. The front wall further includes an air inlet162 and an air outlet 164. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, thefront wall 122 of the outer housing 114 is positioned flush against thehearth. In other embodiments, the front wall 122 of the outer housing114 can protrude outward from the hearth. The fireplace insert 100 issized to fit within the fireplace cavity in the hearth. Fireplaceinserts of various sizes of may be utilized in different embodiments.

The fireplace insert 100 further includes a receptacle 170 carried bythe outer housing 114 and positioned above the firebox 112. In oneembodiment, the receptacle 170 is positioned above the firebox 112. Inalternative embodiments, the receptacle 170 may be positioned at variouslocations in the fireplace insert 100. When the receptacle 170 is in theclosed position, the front face 172 of the receptacle 170 is flush withthe front face 122 of the fireplace insert 100. The receptacle 170 inthe fireplace insert 100 is substantially similar to the receptacle 70in the embodiments described above with respect to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 5-5 ofthe fireplace insert 100 of FIG. 4. As best seen in FIG. 5, the outerhousing 114 of the fireplace insert 110 includes a bottom wall 126, aback wall 128, and a top wall 134. In the illustrated embodiment, thefireplace insert 100 is a gas-burning unit that includes a burnerassembly 200. The burner assembly 200 is substantially similar to theburner assembly described above with respect to FIG. 3. In otherembodiments, the fireplace insert 100 can be configured as awood-fueled, pellet-fueled, or electric fireplace insert.

The firebox 112 in the illustrated embodiment further includes a bottomwall 136, a back wall 138, opposing side walls 140 and 141 (not shown inFIG. 5), and a top wall 144. The firebox 112 is spaced apart from thewalls of the outer housing 114 to define a heat exchanger 150 betweenthe firebox and the outer housing. The heat exchanger 150 can include anairflow passageway with bottom plenum 152 disposed between the outerhousing bottom wall 126 and the firebox bottom wall 136, a back plenum154 disposed between the outer housing back wall 128 and the fireboxback wall 138, and a top plenum 156 disposed between the outer housingtop wall 134 and the firebox top wall 144. The operation of the heatexchanger 150 can be substantially similar to the heat exchanger 50described above with respect to FIG. 3. The heated airflow 166 passingthrough the top plenum 156 of the heat exchanger 150 helps diffuse theevaporated aromatic material 179 from the receptacle 170 through the airoutlet 164 and into the room where the fireplace insert 100 is located.

The above description of illustrated embodiments of the invention is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise formdisclosed. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, theinvention are described herein for illustrative purposes, variousequivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention,as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. The teachings ofthe invention provided herein can be applied to other direct ventfireplace installations, not necessarily the particular installationsdescribed above.

While certain aspects of the invention are presented below in certainclaim forms, the inventor contemplates the various aspects of theinvention in any number of claim forms. In general, in the followingclaims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the invention tothe specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and claims, butshould be construed to include all components and methods ofmanufacturing the components in accordance with the claims. Accordingly,the invention is not limited by the disclosure, but instead the scope ofthe invention is to be determined entirely by the claims.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments ofthe invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration,but that various modifications may be made without deviating from thespirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is notlimited except as by the appended claims.

1. A fireplace assembly, comprising: a firebox; an outer housingsurrounding the firebox and spaced apart from portions of the firebox todefine an airflow passageway around the firebox, the airflow passagewayhaving an inlet and an outlet; and a receptacle integrally connected tothe outer housing and in fluid communication with the airflowpassageway, receptacle being movable relative to the outer housingbetween an open position and a closed position, the receptacle beingrecessed within the outer housing and positioned adjacent to the airflowpassageway when the receptacle is in the closed position, the receptaclebeing in proximity to the firebox to be heated by heat from the fireboxand configured to contain a selected aromatic material that evaporatesand mixes with airflow moving through the airflow passageway between theinlet and the outlet when the receptacle is heated by heat from thefirebox.
 2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the firebox contains aburner assembly connectable to a gas source.
 3. The assembly of claim 1wherein the receptacle is configured to receive the selected aromaticmaterial when the receptacle is in the open position.
 4. The assembly ofclaim 1 wherein the receptacle slides relative to the outer housingbetween the open and closed positions.
 5. The assembly of claim 1wherein the receptacle is positioned above the firebox.
 6. The assemblyof claim 1 wherein the receptacle is positioned at least partially inthe airflow passageway.
 7. The assembly of claim 1, further comprisingan aromatic material in the receptacle and that evaporates when heatedby the heat from the firebox.
 8. A fireplace insert, comprising: afirebox; a fireplace insert housing partially surrounding the fireboxand spaced apart from portions of the firebox to define an airflowpassageway around the firebox, the airflow passageway having an inletand an outlet; and a receptacle carried by the fireplace insert housingadjacent to the outlet and in fluid communication with the airflowpassageway, the receptacle being movable relative to the firebox betweenan open position and a recessed closed position the receptacle inproximity to the firebox to be heated by heat from the firebox when inthe closed position and configured to contain a selected aromaticmaterial that evaporates and mixes with airflow moving through theairflow passageway between the inlet and the outlet when the receptacleis heated by the heat from the firebox to provide an aromatic airflowout of the airflow passageway through the outlet.
 9. The insert of claim8 wherein the firebox contains a burner assembly connectable to a gassource.
 10. The insert of claim 8 wherein the receptacle is configuredto receive the selected aromatic fluid when the receptacle is in theopen position.
 11. The insert of claim 8 wherein the receptacle slidesrelative to the housing between open and closed positions.
 12. Theinsert of claim 8 wherein the receptacle is positioned above thefirebox.
 13. The insert of claim 8 wherein the receptacle is positionedat least partially in the airflow passageway.
 14. The insert of claim 8,further comprising an aromatic material in the receptacle and thatevaporates when heated by the heat from the firebox.
 15. A fireplaceframe for attachment to a fireplace insert having an outer housingsurrounding a firebox and spaced apart from portions of the firebox todefine an airflow passageway around the firebox, the frame comprising: asupport member configured for attachment to a portion of the fireplaceinsert; and a receptacle carried by the support member and in fluidcommunication with the airflow passageway, the receptacle in proximityto the firebox to be heated by heat from the firebox and configured tocontain a selected aromatic material that evaporates and mixes withairflow moving through the airflow passageway when the receptacle isheated by the heat from the firebox to provide an aromatic airflow outof the airflow passageway, wherein the receptacle is movable relative tothe support portion between an open position and a closed position. 16.The frame of claim 15 wherein the receptacle being configured to receivethe selected aromatic material when the receptacle is in the openposition.
 17. The frame of claim 15 wherein the receptacle slidesrelative to the support member between the open and closed positions.18. The frame of claim 15 wherein the receptacle is positioned above thefirebox.
 19. The frame of claim 15 wherein the receptacle is positionedat least partially in the airflow passageway.
 20. The frame of claim 15,further comprising an aromatic material in the receptacle and thatevaporates when heated by the heat from the firebox.
 21. A heatingappliance, comprising: a firebox; an outer housing surrounding thefirebox and spaced apart from portions of the firebox to define anairflow passageway around the firebox, the airflow passageway having aninlet and an outlet; and a receptacle movably coupled to the outerhousing and in fluid communication with the airflow passageway, thereceptacle being translatable relative to the outer housing between anextended open position and a recessed closed position the receptaclebeing in proximity to the firebox to be heated by heat from the fireboxand configured to contain a selected aromatic material that evaporatesand mixes with airflow moving through the airflow passageway between theinlet and the outlet when the receptacle is heated by the heat from thefirebox.
 22. The heating appliance of claim 21 wherein the appliance isa stove.
 23. The heating appliance of claim 21 wherein the appliance isa fireplace.
 24. The heating appliance of claim 21 wherein the applianceis a fireplace insert.
 25. The heating appliance of claim 21 wherein thereceptacle is configured to receive the selected aromatic material whenthe receptacle is in the open position.
 26. The heating appliance ofclaim 21 wherein the receptacle slides relative to the outer housingbetween open and closed positions.
 27. The heating appliance of claim 21wherein the receptacle is positioned above the firebox.
 28. The heatingappliance of claim 21 wherein the receptacle is positioned at leastpartially in the airflow passageway.
 29. The heating appliance of claim21 further comprising an aromatic material in the receptacle and thatevaporates when heated by the heat from the firebox.
 30. A fireplaceassembly, comprising: a firebox; an outer housing surrounding thefirebox and spaced apart from portions of the firebox to define anairflow passageway around the firebox, the airflow passageway having aninlet and an outlet; a receptacle carried by the outer housing and beingmovable between an open position and a closed position, the receptaclebeing adjacent to the outlet of the airflow passageway when in theclosed position, the receptacle in the closed position being inproximity to the firebox to be heated by heat from the firebox; and aselected aromatic material in the receptacle that evaporates and mixeswith airflow moving through the airflow passageway between the inlet andthe outlet of the airflow passageway when the aromatic material isheated by the heat from the firebox.